schizophrenics not taking antipsychotics more likely to recover

People diagnosed with schizophrenia who are not on antipsychotics aremore likely to experience recovery than those taking the medication,according to an American study.

Over 15 years, schizophrenia patients not on antipsychotics showed moreperiods of recovery than those taking antipsychotics, states a researchpaper in last month's Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease.

Researchers reported that, after 10 years, 79% of patients onantipsychotics were psychotic, whereas 23% of those not on medicationwere psychotic. After 15 years, 65 per cent of patients onantipsychotics were psychotic, whereas only 28% of those not onmedication were psychotic.

The study's authors - Martin Harrow and Thomas Jobe of the department ofpsychiatry at the University of Illinois in Chicago - concluded that"not all schizophrenia patients need to use antipsychotic medicationscontinuously throughout their lives."

They stated that certain patient characteristics - such as a "favorablepersonality" - helped those not on medication to experience recovery.

The study was on 145 patients - 64 diagnosed with schizophrenia, and acontrol of 81 patients who had another psychotic diagnosis, such asparanoid disorder.

The research was part-funded by America's National Institute of MentalHealth.

1 comment:

Charlotte
said...

I have been on antipsychotic drugs now for nearly 5 years. I have felt suicidal all that time. I think that they are very very dangerous - much more than people think. In the last few months I have weaned myself off them (without telling my doctor) and I've noticed a major improvement in energy levels. I still have to take one every now and again because my body is having trouble coming off them as well but I just feel like a new woman.

Where to get helpCCHR.ORG is about the best place I know of to get help or referrals on psychiatric abuse.
Dr. John Breeding also runs an interesting site, Wild Colts, for kids diagnosed with ADHD (one of the greatest frauds I've seen).